Key hanger support for key cases

ABSTRACT

A key retainer comprises an integrally formed retainer plate, spring means, and locking member. The spring means includes Ushaped strips which extend from the retainer plate to the locking member to bias the locking member in locked position.

[ June 17, 1975 United States Patent 11 1 Kruger [54] KEY HANGER SU PORT FOR KEY CASES 2,583,360 1/1952 70/456 B Duell......

Inventor: James B. Kruger, Oxford, Conn,

2,780,085 70/456 B 3,l76,490 70/456 B Assignee: Scovill Manufacturing Company,

Waterbury, Conn.

Aug. 29, 1973 Appl. N0.: 392,490

Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dallett Hoopes [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A key retainer comprises an integrally formed retainer plate, spring means, and locking member. The spring means includes U-shaped strips which extend from the retainer plate to the locking member to bias the locking member in locked position.

[52] U S Cl 70/456; 24/3 K [51] Int. A44B 15/00; 150/40 [58] Field of Search.,.....,,...,..... 70/456, 459; 24/3 K References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,582,033 70/456 B 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures 1 KEY HANGER SUPPORT FOR KEY CASES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improvement in the structure ofa supporting means for key cases by which individual hangers in the form of loops or hooks on which the keys are carried are releaseably secured in the case. More particularly, it relates to an improve- -ment of such holders of the type in which the holder includes a tubular portion having one or more transverse slots cut therein presenting enlarged openings at one end for receiving an enlarged head formed on the key hanger.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art abounds with showing of key cases and retainers of the type having tubular holders with spaced slots for holding key hangers. An example is shown in the Duell US. Pat. No. 2,709,358. This patent discloses a key holder in which a tubular retainer is slotted, the slots each having an enlarged opening for receipt of the head of the key hanger. A locking member concentric with and inside the tubular retainer is adapted to cut off the enlarged openings to preclude escape ofthe hanger when it is not desired. The locking member is capable of assuming a first or second position and is springbiased in the first position, in which the enlarged openings are blocked.

Retainers of the prior art have been objectionable in that the spring used to hold the locking member in the first or locking position has varied greatly in strength so that the retention of the parts in first position has been unreliable. Having a separate locking member, retaining plate, and spring, have also, of course, added to the effort required in assembly and to the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Under the present invention. there is provided an improvement in the structure disclosed in the Duell patent. which improvement involves the forming of the three parts. that is, the tubular retaining plate, the locking member, and the spring, from a single integral blank. By this improvement, the spring is of predictable strength so that it exerts a pre-designed urge of the locking member into the sail first position, and, additionally, by being of a single part rather than three, the assembly effort is greatly minimized as compared with prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of the invention and features will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a study of the following specification and drawings, all disclosing a non-limiting embodiment ofthe invention. In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view ofa key hanger embody ing the invention and showing a single retaining hook therein;

FIG. 2 is a view ofthe blank from which a hanger embodying the invention may be made;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view showing the parts in locking position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the parts in Unlocked position;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a key hanger embodying the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A key hanger support embodying the invention is generally designated 10 in FIG. 1. It comprises a retaining plate 12 having a flat portion with attaching rivet holes, as shown, and a tubular portion 12b. The tubular portion is slotted as at 14, and the rear ends of the slots have lateral openings (FIG. 3) for the reception of the heads H of the key hanger K.

As shown, the support further includes a locking member 16 concentric with and disposed inside the tubular portion 12b. The locking member is formed with a plurality of fingers 16a which, in the first position of the locking member, will close off the connection between the enlarged openings 14a and the circumferential portion of the slots 14. The locking member is formed with an operating tab 18 by which the lock member may be moved from the said first position (FIG. 3) to a second position (FIG. 4) wherein the tingers 16a permit passage of the head H of a key book, from the slot 14 and out through the enlarged opening 140. this is accomplished, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, by pressing the operating tab 18 into the notch 20 in the tubular portion of the retaining plate.

Biasing the locking member in the first position are a pair of generally U-shaped elements 22 which are disposed generally in planes perpendicular to the direction of movement of the locking member from first position to second position. The spring elements 22 each comprise a pair of legs 24 connected by a connecting bight. The lower legs are cut from a portion of the flat segment of the retaining plate while the upper legs (FIG. 1) double back, extend through appropriate notches 26 in the tubular portion 12b and connect to the locking member. Suitable spaces are formed on either side of the lower legs 24 to permit flexing of the respective springs. As shown in FIG. 5, the rightward urging of the operating tab 18 with respect to the plate 12 will cause the finger 16a to unblock the connection between the slots and the enlarged openings 14a permitting the maneuvering of the stern of the associated hook into the enlarged openings so that the hook can be extracted, its head passing through the opening. Upon release of the operating tab 18, the resilience of the spring elements 22 will move the locking member leftwardly from the broken line position of FIG. 5.

FIG. 2 shows the blank from which a support embodying the invention may be formed. The blank is preferably made of planar brass strip and is formed in a proper sequence of operations whereby the locking member 16 becomes tubular and is disposed inside the tubular retainer 12b.

Thus, the structure of the invention not only assures reliable operation due to the consistent strength of the spring 24, but also is susceptible of automatic forming with little effort and cost.

While the invention has been described in only one form, it is not so limited but is susceptible to many reasonable variations, all falling within the scope of the ap pended claim language.

I claim:

1. A key hanger support for key cases which comprises a plate member having an edge portion bent to form a tube, the tube having longitudinally spaced notches at the extreme of said edge. said tube being provided with at least one transverse hanger-retaining slot terminating in an enlarged opening, a portion of said opening being offset from the slot, a locking member slidably mounted in the tube and having a projection positioned to close that portion only of the opening which is in alignment with the slot and bar the entrance from the slot to the opening in one position of the locking member and to clear said opening and its entrance in a second position of the locking member a spring means normally holding said locking member in said first position, a finger piece carried by the locking member at that end toward which the offset portion of said opening is directed, for moving said locking memher to said second position, the spring means including a pair of spaced U-shaped strips integral with the plate and locking member and each disposed in planes generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the locking member, each U-shaped strip having a pair of legs connected by a bight and one of the legs being cut out of the plate member, the cut-out being ample on either side of each leg to permit lateral movement of the leg, and said other legs being received through the notches into the tube respectively whereat the ends of the other legs remote from the bight are connected to the locking member. 

1. A key hanger support for key cases which comprises a plate member having an edge portion bent to form a tube, the tube having longitudinally spaced notches at the extreme of said edge, said tube being provided with at least one transverse hangerretaining slot terminating in an enlarged opening, a portion of said opening being offset from the slot, a locking member slidably mounted in the tube and having a projection positioned to close that portion only of the opening which is in alignment with the slot and bar the entrance from the slot to the opening in one position of the locking member and to clear said opening and its entrance in a second position of the locking member, a spring means normally holding said locking member in said first position, a finger piece carried by the locking member at that end toward which the offset portion of said opening is directed, for moving said locking member to said second position, the spring means including a pair Of spaced U-shaped strips integral with the plate and locking member and each disposed in planes generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the locking member, each U-shaped strip having a pair of legs connected by a bight and one of the legs being cut out of the plate member, the cut-out being ample on either side of each leg to permit lateral movement of the leg, and said other legs being received through the notches into the tube respectively whereat the ends of the other legs remote from the bight are connected to the locking member. 